Self-attending fire hose



C. L.-SCOTT ETAL. 2,848,012

SELF-ATTENDING FIRE HOSE Filed March 16, 1955 YINVENTORS SCOT KLINCK ATTO Y United States Patent SELF-ATTENDING FIRE HOSE Charles L. Scott and John C. Klinck, Memphis, Tenn.

Application March 16, 1955, Serial No. 494,788

4 Claims. (Cl. 137-342) This invention relates to water distribution and to the manner of utilizing water in large volume and particularly where great pressure and selective direction are necessary or desirable, as for example in the fighting of fire.

The invention relates specifically to equipment and technique employed in the distribution of water by means of which the water can be projected under great pressure and in a large stream as, for example, through a relatively large fire hose with a nozzle on its discharge end which nozzle ordinarily is held by firemen who direct the stream of water upon the fire.

Water under substantial pressure discharged through a hose in fighting fire causes considerable kickback and the hose is diflicult to hold and manipulate and it has been customary for four or five men to undertake to hold and direct the nozzle through which water is discharged.

It is also desirable but diflicult due to the kickback for men to hold the nozzle stationary in order that the full force of the stream and the maximum distance obtained in projecting Water onto the fire. It is desirable to have satisfactory means to support the nozzle in a stationary manner and at the same time be readily portable or movable in order that maximum usefulness may be obtained as well as with the reduction in manpower in its use.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the above difficulties, to provide a self-attending nozzle for a fire hose which can be easily set up and used with minimum effort manpower and expenditure of time, and which will remain stationary in use but can be easily moved from place to place or it can be operated by one person whose Weight will assist in eliminating kickback and with such person being able to guide the nozzle and thereby control the direction of the discharge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfattencling nozzle for a fire hose which will have sufficient weight and engagement with a supporting surface to resist kickback and in which the hose is pointed at a slight angle upwardly so that it will direct water onto a fire or selected location, with the nozzle of such a character that it can be left unattended in close proximity to a fire where the heat would be too intense to be attended, and at the same time will continue to direct a stream, spray, or fog in accordance with the nozzle employed and without appreciable nozzle movement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3, a front elevation.

Briefly stated the invention comprises a weighted unit including a relatively heavy substantially rectangular plate, an iron pipe aflrxed across the center of the same with its forward end disposed upwardly at an angle of approximately 35 and with a prong at each end of the plate ice and spaced rearwardly on the iron pipe to provide a threepoint suspension for the unit. I

The iron pipe is provided with a short hose section and a nozzle at its forward end and a coupling for a water supply hose at its rear end. A pair of horizontal and downwardly disposed arms are mounted on the plate at each side of the pipe for facilitating the holding and movement of the unit, the plate being .adapted to receive the foot of a fireman on each side when attended by one individual but also, the device is adapted to be left unattended.

With continued reference to the drawing the invention comprises a substantially rectangular relatively heavy deck plate or platform 10 of metal or the like with a downwardly turned flange 11 alongone longitudinal edge for contact with a floor or other supporting surface.

Adjacent each end of the deck plate on its under side is an attached steel surface engaging point or spur 12 and across the center of the deck plate is disposed a heavy metal pipe 13 having its forward portion bent upwardly at an angle of approximately 35 and with a surface engaging point or spur 14 adjacent each end on its under surface rearwardly of the deck plate to provide with the two spurs on the deck plate a three-point support for the device.

The metal pipe 13 fits within a slot 15 in the rear edge of the deck plate and preferably is welded in position. Additional securing means is provided for fastening the pipe to the deck plate, namely, a pair of spaced upwardly extending arms to which are connected above the pipe providing in efiect a yoke and with a saddle 17 beneath the pipe. The arms of the yoke extend outwardly at their lower ends and are welded or otherwise fixed to the deck plate.

Bars 13 and I? extend outwardly in opposite horizontal directions from each side of the pipe and are connected respectively by uprights 2t] and 21 to the deck plate. The horizontal portions 18 and 19 of these bars at each side of the pipe serve for gripping and holding and to facilitate movement of the device when one or more persons stand on the deck plate to supply additional weight for anchoring the device in position and when controlling the direction of the nozzle.

A handle forming brace or rod 22 is connected to the rear and forward portions of the pipe to further facilitate holding and transportation, also the pipe is provided at its front and rear ends with couplings, as for example, a female coupling 23 at the rear for connection with a male coupling 24 and a male connection 25 on the forward end of the pipe for attachment of a female connection 26 and a short length of flexible hose 27. To the free end of the flexible hose 27 is connected a nozzle 28 of any desired type.

It will be understood from the foregoing that a practical relatively inexpensive self-attending hose unit is provided which can be readily transported and used attended or unattended as the occasion warrants. Also it Will not only eliminate the necessity for excessive manpower but will prevent kickback.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-attending fire hose comprising a substantially rectangular relatively heavy metal deck plate having a downwardly turned flange along one longitudinal edge for contact with a supporting surface, a spur adjacent each end on the under side of said plate in spaced relation to said flange, a relatively heavy metal pipe having a relatively straight rear portion and a forward portion at an angle of approximately 35 thereto, said pipe and plate being. welded together with the straight portion of said pipe in substantially horizontal position and the angular portion of said pipe disposed upwardly,- a spur under the rear portion of said pipe forming with the s'purs beneath the plate a three-point suspension for said plate and pipe, a yoke fastened over the forward portion of said pipe and having its lower ends welded to said plate adjacent said surface engaging flange, a supporting saddle beneathsaid pipe connecting the arms of said yoke and fasteningsaid pipe to said plate, a pair of arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of said yoke "and having depending portions with extremi'tiesl of the latter. welded to said plate, a bar connecting the straight and included portions of said pipe in spaced relation and providing a handle by which the device may be transported, and hose connections at the front and rear ends of said pipe whereby water may be supplied to the rear straight substantially horizontal portions of said pipe and discharged at the front inclined portion of said pipe.

2. A self attending fire hose comprising a deck plate having a downwardly turned flange along one longitudinal edge for contact with a supporting surface, a spur adjacent each end on the under side of said plate in spaced relation to said flange, a pipe having a relatively straight rear portion and a forward portion inclined thereto, said pipe and plate being fastened together with the straight portion of said pipe in substantially horizontal position and the angular portion of said pipe disposed upwardly, a spur under the rear portion of said pipe forming with the spursv beneath the plate a three-point suspension for said plate and pipe, a yoke fastened over the forward portion of said pipe and having its lower ends welded to said plate adjacent said surface engaging flange, a pair of arms extending outwardly from opposite sides of said yoke and having depending portions with extremities of the latter attached to said plate, a bar connecting the straight and inclined portions of said pipe in spaced relation and-providing a handle by which the device may be transported, and hose connections at the front and rear ends of said pipe whereby water may be supplied to the rear straight substantially horizontal portions of said pipe 4t and discharged at the front inclined portion of said pipe.

3. A self-attending fire hose comprising a deck plate having a downwardly turned flange along one longitudinal edge for contact with a supporting surface, a spur adjacent each end on the under side of said plate in spaced relation to said flange, a pipe having a relatively straight rear portion and a forward portion inclined thereto, said pipe and plate being fastened together with the straight portion of said pipe in substantially horizontal position and the angular portion of said pipe disposed upwardly, a spur under the rear portion of said pipe forming with the spurs beneath the plate a three-point suspension for said plate and pipe, a yoke fastened over the forward portion of said pipe and having its lower ends welded to said plate adjacent said surface engaging flange, and hose connections at the front and rear ends of said pipe whereby water may be supplied to the rear straight substantially horizontal portions of said pipe and discharged at the front inclined portion of said pipe.

4. A support for a fire hose to take the reaction of a stream of water and provide a support for a nozzle, said support comprising a rigid elongated base plate, a rigid pipe having an obtuse angle located across the width of said rigid base plate with the plane of the angle substantially at right angles thereto and fixedly mounted on said base plate with one leg of the angle of said pipe substantially parallel to the base plate and extending beyond one edge of said base plate in substantially the same plane as the base plate and coacting therewith to aid inv supporting said pipe, the other leg extending upwardly and outwardly beyond the other edge of the base plate, means to secure a hose to the free end of said one legofv the pipe and means to secure a nozzle to the free end of said other leg of the pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 177,419 Perkins May 16, 1876 1,674,693 Macgregor June 26, 1928 1,743,537 Freese Jan. 14, 1930 1,988,159 Burgess Jan. 15, 1935 2,571,388 Shanahan Oct. 16, 1951 

